In 2006 it was a natural step to establish a full-time European office based in Brussels. It is led by principal Ursula O’Dwyer, who is a State Aid and EU law specialist. She has worked with multinational companies and the governments of many EU member states and regions. The Brussels Office is also active in the field of international trade and represents clients in trade defence cases before the EU institutions. The firm’s clients in this area have included not only EU companies, but also companies from China, Taiwan, USA, Turkey, Hong Kong and Pakistan as well as the Government of the Russian Federation.

Many of our lawyers have studied at the College of Europe in Bruges and have completed work experience stages in European Institutions and in our Brussels office before joining the Dublin firm. As a result they have a deep understanding and up-to-date awareness of current law and policy across a broad spectrum of sectors as well as a fluency in foreign languages including French and German.

Our Brussels office provides a useful base for clients in Europe, particularly international clients for whom we act as international counsel.

Through the Brussels Office we advise companies from inside and outside the EU in connection with obtaining incentives for inward investment in European countries.

Our Brussels Office differentiates us in having a permanent European presence and deep connections with senior EU officials. In the area of State aid it has acted for clients in bringing complaints to the European Commission against competitors, which are receiving unfair subsidies; for recipients of aid regarding notifications to the EU Commission and in Commission investigations as well as advising on how to structure a project in a way which respects the rules either because it falls outside the definition of aid or falls under a block exemption regulation. Sectors include: financial services, telecommunications, energy, tourism, food, broadcasting, transport, sport, education, construction, water and waste.